Aging Naturally In A World That Refuses To Age
The recent death of Diane Keaton hit me hard. Harder than any celebrity death in my lifetime. It may sound silly but she was my role model for aging naturally. I guess it’s time to make a Keaton mood board in Pinterest and visit it every time I’m tempted with a fleeting thought of injections.
When I turned 36 this year it wasn’t a hard birthday. At one point I used to think getting closer to 40 would be hard, but it wasn’t. Not this year at least. Maybe it’s because I was too busy wrangling a toddler. Maybe it’s because I’m still on the heels of almost dying during childbirth. Facing death has a funny way of putting your life into perspective. I’m getting older, but at least that means I’m here.
Aging in itself as a number hasn’t been hard at all. It’s actually been quite liberating. What’s difficult is seeing the increasing number of forehead wrinkles and the loss of definition in my jawline that seemingly happened overnight.
I’ve always been one to say I’m going to age naturally. Easier said than done when Botox and fillers were mostly reserved for the rich and famous. Now I open up social media and the average woman my age has a regimen to fight aging that can’t be bought at the drugstore or Ulta. Here I sit clinging to my gigantic jar of Nivea creme contemplating using a filter on my latest tiktok video.
It’s increasingly harder to solely rely on my Nivea cream and a baseball hat in the sun when women I know personally in the real world are starting to look like Victoria Secret models in the face as they approach 40 while I look in the mirror and see someone who resembles my younger self, but is beginning to look like an aging stranger who’s less Victoria Secret and more tired mom. My hair hasn’t even begun turning gray yet- how much harder is this going to get?
The angsty side of me wants to use aging naturally as a form of rebellion against big pharma and the cosmetic industry. Meanwhile, the side of me that wants to stay youthful and fit in wants to book a Botox party and never look back. I know no amount of Nivea cream, retinol serum, or covering my face in the sun is going to freeze my face for a moment in time.
If you’re struggling in this naturally aging battle when looking in the mirror each morning. Just know you’re not alone. Solidarity sister!
My go to dessert for fruit that’s about to go bad is a French galette…